EC: Ready for simultaneous polls next year

Live TV

The debate on one nation, one election has cropped up again. Election Commissioner OP Rawat has said that the poll watchdog will be in a position to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections by September next year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has time and again advocated the move in the interest of the country and while voices backing his view have been growing in chorus, some political parties still remain vary about putting the theory of simultaneous polls into practice.

He has also been backed by several eminent persons such as former Chief Election Commissioners and former President Pranab Mukherjee.

The issue has cropped up again as Wednesday saw Election Commissioner OP Rawat say that the poll watchdog can conduct simultaneous elections after September next year.

While on a visit to Madhya Pradesh state capital Bhopal, the Election Commissioner said that the Commission will need 40 lakh EVMs and VVPATs for conducting simultaneous polls.

Rawat also said that the central government had sought information on what the EC needs to conduct simultaneous polls after which funds have been released for the purpose.

Prime Minister Modi has dwelt on the issue several times in the past saying separate elections not only lead to additional economic burden but also disrupt good governance. Former President Pranab Mukherjee too had urged the Election Commission to move forward on the issue consulting various political parties as part of a broader canvas of electoral reforms. But there's lack of unanimity among political stake holders on the matter. While the BJP is in favour of the move, several other political outfits want the issue to be examined thoroughly.

Many other political parties such as the Congress support it in theory but are not sure how it will be put into practice. However, no one doubts the benefits.

BENEFITS OF SIMULTANEOUS POLLS

-- Simultaneous polls will not only save money but also time -- Frequent elections lead to model code of conduct being in force for long periods of time stalling development work & impeding good governance -- Simultaneous polls could provide much needed political and administrative stability -- Frequent polls also keep governments in populist poll mode avoiding tough decisions that benefit people in the long run -- Frequent elections even keep the polity polarised over divisive issues like caste and community

If political parties can be on one page, Assembly polls of several states can be held along with the next general elections due in 2019. Simultaneous polls were the norm soon after independence till 1967 when some state Assemblies were dissolved mid- term for different reasons but recent years have seen many states returning more stable mandates. Many say that now it is time to take a final call on the issue of one nation, one election.